Keep in mind that I don't live in a subdivision....more like "Wisteria Lane" but the houses are much farther apart.... So here's the thing... A family owns some road frontage property in our community (an old and "abandoned-looking" house, barn and acreage) but they don't live there. (They do keep their grass cut, though). Yesterday, (between 10-11am) a neighbor saw someone with truck and trailer pull into (and block) the drive of this property. A "clean-cut" man got out of his truck and began to rake the straw under the huge pine trees in the front yard (next to the road) and pile it into his nice trailer... so, this neighbor assumed it was the "yardboy" (man). Then the neighbor who owns the property drove by and saw the same....only thing was that they knew they had not hired anyone to rake the straw that they were planning to put in their own yard! This guy was stealing their pine straw! Now this neighbor (owner) is known to give you their shirt if you ask and is generally calm and "diplomatic" (Not "confrontational") so instead of immediately calling the sheriff, they pulled off the road and asked the man why he was "stealing" the straw. Get this...he said he was not stealing....he had knocked on the door of the house and nobody answered. He said he thought the government must own it since nobody lived there and he did not "think" it would be a problem with anyone. He added that he did not have a job (btw: the couple that owns this does not have steady income either) and he said he and his wife saw the straw as they drove by before and did not "think" it would hurt anything if he went and got it. He offered to put the straw back but the owner said keep the trailer load and leave (but suggested that he "think" next time). Then he offered to cut their grass....for $50!!! (They should have made him put the straw back right then!) I was taught respect (alot by example...not by someone saying "you must") and to this day, my Aunt (also a neighbor) will ask me if she can gather some magnolia leaves from my own yard. I appreciate that she respects me and my property....though I probably would not be "offended" if she didn't ask but if it was a random stranger, I think I would be upset. Now honestly...I've seen roadside cattails, bamboo, etc. or fields of post-harvest sweet potatoes, pumpkins, etc. that I thought "Hmmm, I'd love to have some of that"....But I have NEVER gone on to my neighbor's property to take something without asking.....and if I did not know who owned it, then I wouldn't be able to ask them and then I would not be on their property....or I'd be the one lucky enough to have a stay in the jailhouse! Where's the respect?
Dang...He was a brave...I would have at least gone to the nearest neighbor to find out the property owner! ...good way to get shot at in some parts.
That is a sad commentary of what has become of our society. The guy is lucky he was not shot by the landowner. My MIL used to have us ride the farm on weekends looking for folks trespassing. They would illegally hunt/fish and make a big mess on the back part of her property (trash/burning fires), even though it was posted. It was kind of scary sometimes when we had to run these folks off. A big dog and a big gun goes a long way, though. Now since we moved here, she barters with a neighbor who hunts and he keeps an eye on things and keeps the paths clean. I hope this landowner has some signs in place. It offers little resistance to these kinds of people, but it is about all he can do.
I don't know. It doesn't sound that bad to me. Clearly he should have gone further to ask, but I have the feeling the embarrassment will stick with him
I bet so. ... wish he'd stop by my house to rake. I'd probably bring him a pepsi when he finished. <------ hates yard work and pine trees!
What got me was the excuse the guy gave that he didn't have a job. What was he going to do? Sell the pine straw? No, he got caught trying to steal some pine straw for his flower bed and could think of nothing better. Offering to cut the grass for $50 was an insult to injury. I think an apology was enough, followed by hauling out with tail tucked between legs. The best thing I guess would be for a person that does want to get rid of pine straw is to put up a sign. FREE PINE STRAW...YOU RAKE.
I may be wrong, but I think there is a seperate law in place regarding pine straw thievery, above and beyond just plain old trespasssing and stealing. Apparently it became so much of a problem that our General Assembly thought the crime hienous enough to enact separate legislation..... either that or they were having a slow day....
People will steal anything that ain't nailed down. Sorry arses. I know of house right now that the foreclosed on owner ripped out the new heat pump, which WAS nailed down. He didn't pay for it originally is the thing. :evil: What a jerk.
seriously, my son has had both of his kids bikes stolen out of his backyard and he lives in a decent neighborhood too but what really bites is when he caught the 17yo on his 12yo daughter's bike after he had spraypainted it in his "colors", the cops said no one could prove the kid riding the bike and running like hell when he saw the family actually stole it cause he said someone gave it to him and his parents backed him up. If someone had actually given him a pink 12yo girl's bike, why the crap would he run when he saw the family it was stolen from? Parents are just encouraging their little juvenile delinquents when they lie for them so they don't have to face the consequences of their actions and are actually perpetuating the now ongoing belief that anything is fair gain if you get away with it:evil::evil::evil:
Well I hate to say it but things are only going to get worse. The economy is so bad now that people are going to do anything they can. It does not make it right and those that do these things are "arses", but it is what it is........There is so much desparation in the lives of people now that I see coming to where I work that it will not stay at a "bike" or "pinestraw". I'm TELLIN y'all. You don't see and hear the things I do up in this mug........
